Lori writes about a mother with some awful postoperative complications whose
milk supply (crucial for her preemie) is very low.  Lori, it's been my
experience that we can view the mother's body as a power plant with a finite
supply of energy.  If  maternal health is poor or stressed, there is
typically less energy to divert to tasks not crucial to her own survival
(like making milk for the baby.)  I've seen this in women with infections,
severe blood loss, etc, and the literature supports this fact.  What has
been important for the future potential to make milk once the mom's medical
condition is stabilized is to keep the breasts "turned on" by keeping them
stimulated.  I don't know how the correct terminology to explain the
physiology of this should be stated, but I do know that if she pumps (even
if nothing comes out in the present) over time, she may see increases in
supply.  If she could, have her try using Pam Hill's base line of a minimum
of 6 daily pumpings for bringing in milk for a preemie (JHL 1999;
15(3)209-216.)  Perhaps it would help her state of mind if the baby could
receive some donor milk.  This can be shipped, but would need a prescription
from the doctor.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
LactNews Press
www.lactnews.com

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